News Release

Share your thoughts about trail, safety, and waterfront improvements in Old Town North

Date: September 29, 2025
Contact: NCR Communications

Editor's note: This story has been updated to show that the planned public meeting was canceled on 10/21/2025.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. —The National Park Service (NPS) invites you to help shape a plan for safety, trail, and waterfront improvements near the Old Town North neighborhood. Your input will guide future upgrades along George Washington Memorial Parkway, the Mount Vernon Trail, and the Potomac waterfront in connection with the proposed 18.8-acre mixed-use redevelopment district on the site of the former coal-fired power plant.

What’s proposed
Mount Vernon Trail and Potomac River access: add new trail connections, replace the aging cantilevered trail bridge and widen portions of the trail. Create river overlooks, and new recreational access to the Potomac River.
Transportation and Safety upgrades: redesigned intersections at Slaters and Bashford Lanes, with added safety features such as bike lanes, crosswalks, and signals.
More public space: expanded riverfront access, improved views, and coordinated park areas with the nearby redevelopment district.

How to participate
Attend the virtual public meeting (CANCELED)
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
6:00–7:30 p.m. ET
Zoom link: https://hilcoglobal.zoom.us/j/99568224577
Dial-in: 1-301-715-8592 or 1-312-626-6799, ID: 995 6822 4577

Comment period: Oct. 21–Nov. 21, 2025

Why it matters
This is one of the busiest sections of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Mount Vernon Trail. With your feedback, improvements will make it safer, more accessible, and more enjoyable for everyone. 
Accessibility: If you need reasonable accommodations, please email [e-mail] at least seven days before the meeting.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION 
The National Park Service National Capital Region cares for iconic parks, memorials, monuments, battlefields, and parkways across Washington, D.C., and portions of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia— places that keep the nation’s shared heritage safe, beautiful, and welcoming for millions every day.
 
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE  
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s more than 430 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.